Educators demonstrate a broad knowledge base and an understanding of areas they teach.
A highlight from 491 practicum was our Ice Fishing field trip! When this outdoor activity was first suggested by another staff member, I had no knowledge of how one fishes through ice, what sort of equipment is involved, which techniques are recommended etc. but I knew it would be a wonderful learning opportunity. Saying “yes” to this adventure allowed my knowledge base to broaden, which is one of the main goals of practicum. Before going through expectations with the class, I put my head down to conduct research so I could be knowledgeable. I also knew that there would be facilitators on-hand who could answer more technical questions. I think this is important as an educator; knowing when to defer to someone who holds greater knowledge than yourself. We can’t be experts on everything, but we can train ourselves to know when to ask for assistance so we will be more well-rounded in the future!
